thanks neera!
Ousted vaccine director files whistleblower complaint alleging coronavirus warnings were ignored
By Kaitlan Collins, Jeremy Diamond and Kevin Liptak, CNN
Updated 2:38 PM ET, Tue May 5, 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/politics/rick-bright-complaint/index.html
Dr. Rick Bright, the ousted director of the office involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine, formally filed an extensive whistleblower complaint Tuesday alleging his early warnings about the coronavirus were ignored and that his caution at a treatment favored by President Donald Trump led to his removal.
Bright had led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority since 2016 until last month, when was reassigned to a narrower position at the National Institutes of Health.
In his whistleblower complaint, Bright says he raised concerns about US preparedness for coronavirus starting in January but was met with "indifference which then developed into hostility" by leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services.
His attorneys argue that Bright's removal from his post amounts to a violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act, claiming that Bright "has engaged in numerous instances of protected activity."
In the complaint, he says he is seeking reinstatement as BARDA's director and asking for a full investigation.
He claims leaders at the agency were surprised by his concerns and responded slowly to the outbreak.
He alleges old disputes with HHS leadership were exacerbated by clashes over the coronavirus and that he was eventually excluded from participating in meetings about the virus.
"Dr. Bright pressed for urgent access to funding, personnel and clinical specimens, including viruses, which he emphasized were all critically necessary to begin development of lifesaving medicines needed in the likely event that the virus spread outside of Southeast Asia," the complaint reads. "Secretary Azar and Dr. Kadlec responded with surprise at Dr. Bright's dire predictions and urgency."
Later, Bright claims he was cut out of critical meetings for raising early alarm about the virus.
"It was obvious that Dr. Bright's persistent demands for urgent action to respond to the pandemic had caused a 'shit storm' and a 'commotion' and were unwelcome in the office of the HHS Secretary," the complaint reads. "As a result, HHS leadership excluded Dr. Bright and BARDA from these recurring meetings and from the critical discussions about addressing the COVID-19 pandemic
breaking news
HHS official Rick Bright says he was ousted after raising concern about coronavirus drug Trump had touted
David Jackson
John Fritze
USA TODAY
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/05/rick-bright-files-whistleblower-complaint-against-trump-administration/3023905001/
WASHINGTON – A vaccine expert who said he was ousted after raising concerns about a drug President Donald Trump touted as a potential treatment for coronavirus filed a whistleblower complaint Tuesday alleging longstanding political influence at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Rick Bright, who until recently served as director of the HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, also said he raised alarms about the coronavirus – and the need to ramp up production of face masks and other personal protective equipment – with White House officials as far back as January.
Bright says in the report that he resisted widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, which Trump had repeatedly touted, because the claims of its benefit lacked “scientific merit." In his report, Bright said he pushed back against the drug "even though the administration promoted it as a panacea and demanded that New York and New Jersey be 'flooded' with these drugs."
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority is designed to aid in securing the nation from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, as well as from influenza and diseases, according to HHS. Bright was removed from his role and assigned to a job at the National Institutes of Health last month.
HHS and White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The report argues that "HHS political leadership retaliated against Dr. Bright for his objections and resistance to funding potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections and by the administration itself."
Bright's attorneys argue in the report that tension with HHS leadership dated to non-Covid contracts earlier in Trump administration. Bright said he resisted efforts to extend a contract with a company whose CEO, he was told, was a friend of Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and a senior adviser at the White House.
Bright also claims in the report that he met with White House officials as far back as February 8, 2020 to warn about the coronavirus and that he emphasized the need to "secure N95 masks and to ramp up mask production,” as well as other equipment.
Trump said late last month that he didn't know about Bright or his accusations.
"I have never heard of him," the president said. "I don't know who he is."
>>9041178
DS just building the narrative
HCQ bad: masks good
>Here we go again…. moar house hearings, moar lies, moar Nanzi & Chucki & Shifty, and another peachment scam….
every asset deployed
>Ousted vaccine director files whistleblower complaint alleging coronavirus warnings were ignoredBy Kaitlan Collins, Jeremy Diamond and Kevin Liptak, CNN
no wonder the Ds were so worked up over whistleblowers at hearing for Ratcliffe
Why can't we all just wear masks?
>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16115318/
a ring doesn't guarantee a ceremony, just a diploma
those stupid HS rings are the biggest scam and waste of money ever.
and now, many kids don't even get them until after they graduate.
who cares then?
biggest high school scams.
….class rings and AP classes
>a ring doesn't guarantee a ceremony, just a diploma
I should say a diploma doesn't guarantee a ceremony,
a ring guarantees nothing.
was this guy working with the "LINCOLN PROJECT'…working for the rinos?